A "$15 For Seattle Rally" report from 609's Business Manager, Dave Westberg...

Brothers and sisters:Wow, what a time we had at yesterday’s rally for a $15 minimum wage in Seattle. The Mayor is scheduled to make his proposal today (23 April 2014).As a prelude, hundreds of workers and labor activists formed a ‘human chain’ around City Hall Wednesday and made some noise about it!Getting started soon after 4 PM, workers from a wide range of service sectors (like 609) hung around (in light rain) and shared their perspective about income inequality and trying to afford to live in Seattle.Many banners were hung (unfortunately, ours was not one as our presence was minimal) and old and new friends connected. After a few short speeches, activities began.Ultimately, the ‘human chain’ formed, lined up with an actual rope that we all held onto.I kid you not, it was inspiring!!!As I left after a little over an hour, I realized it was my job to make sure that 609 puts more of our “shoulder to the wheel” on this issue (although I know we are all very busy) and hope that the next event includes our banner and more 609 members feeling a part of this drive, which is bigger than all of us.A long time member recently asked me “what does that have to do with us?” and I have realized a few things:President Kennedy said that addressing poverty would “lift all (economic) boats”, the members of Local 609 who currently make less than $15 an hour would benefit greatly from an increase in Seattle (where the District paid one administrator over $363,000 a year last year and the head of HR got three salary increases just in 2013). But also, increasing the bottom ‘rungs’ of our salary schedules would force our employer to adjust all of the ‘rungs’ in order to maintain the balance that they all contain.For instance, in Nutrition, if entry level wages surpassed Manager levels, all the Managers would step down to make more money! The employer couldn’t have that!Think about that and I think you will realize that this local issue affects us all more than any other on the scene today.Please stay tuned and do your best to get more involved with events such as this one. We can arrange transportation, and help in any number of ways.In unity is strength,Dave

“It is only as those subordinated by a particular consensus organize and gain power commensurate with that of their oppressors that the prevailing consensus unravels and the pretext for exploitation is disallowed.” -Fuller